#1 The Rise of the Crescent Moon

August

I smiled as my older brother, Mason, and his mate, Laine, walked in. I wasn’t sure they were going to be able to make it.

“What is this?” My father said, standing from his chair. I walked across the room and greeted my brother with a hug,

“Long time, Mason.” I said.

“Too long.” Mason agreed. I offered a bow to Laine and kissed her hand out of respect. Wyatt and Logan were quick to cross the room as well. Hugging their eldest brother and sister in law. Our father was next to join in on the reunion.

“Mason, Laine, I would like you to meet my mate, Luna Josephine.” I said, leading them across the room and towards Josie, who was standing next to her chair with a smile.

“It’s so good to see you, Luna Josephine.” Mason grinned, shaking her hand.

“Please, call me Josie.” I beamed with pride at my mate as she shared a hug with Laine.

“It’s good to meet another Luna, there’s too much testosterone in this house.” Josie laughed. We all turned our heads as another pair entered the room.

“Jared?” Josie gasped, excusing herself from Laine and running across the room. She hugged her brother close,

“What are you two doing here?” She asked, hugging April next.

“Is it even safe for you to be here?” She asked her pregnant sister in law.

“It’s fine, JoJo, relax.” April laughed.

“August, what is going on?” Josie turned her gaze to me.

“Everyone, please have a seat.” I said,

“I’m so glad everyone could make it. I wasn’t sure if Jared and Mason and their mates were going to get here in time. I wanted both of our families to be here for this moment.” I said, taking Josie’s hand and kneeling down on one knee. She gasped, her free hand covering her mouth.

“I know it’s not a custom in our world to get married, but it is an important tradition in the human world. You, my love, have one foot in each and I want to honor that. I want to be tied to you in every form, in every world. You made it a priority to connect yourself to me by finding a way to mark me, I want to honor you in the same way,

“I never knew life could be so good, so filled with joy and love, until I met you. You were sculpted for me and I for you. I will give you the world if you’d ask me for it, and I will protect you with my life. You keep me going so I can keep this pack going. I love you endlessly, Josephine Valentine, will you marry me?” I poured my heart out to this tiny she-wolf human in front of me and the smile she rewarded me with was priceless.

“Yes, yes.” Josie said breathlessly, grabbing my face in her hands and slamming her lips to mine. I grabbed her left hand and slipped my mother’s ring onto her finger before wrapping my arms around her waist and spinning her around with joy.

“I love you.” I said, sitting her down and pulling her close.

“I love you.” She replied just as the rest of the room burst into applause and she was swept away from me to hug our family members.

“Okay, okay, give me back my mate.” I chuckled,

“Let’s eat.”

We all took our seats at the table as the staff served us our plates. The entire table looked at Josie from where she sat on my right. Josie smiled back and picked up her fork, taking the first bite and, thus, indicating that the rest of the table could eat. I watched as the ring on her finger gleaned and couldn’t help but smile. With my mark on her neck and my ring on her finger, I was finally at peace.

“Love, it’s time to wake up.” I chuckled, pushing Josie’s hair from her face and shaking her awake. She grumbled, batting at my hand and rolling over.

“It’s ceremony day.” I reminded her. She turned her head towards me and blinked away her dream. I leaned down and kissed her softly,

“Kasey is insisting that we don’t see each other until the ceremony so I have to go.” I said, not exactly happy about it.

“That’s for a wedding, not the Luna ceremony.” Josie’s voice cracked with drowsiness as she sat up.

“This is the werewolf equivalent of a wedding, Josie.” I pointed out.

“Is everything ready?” She asked me and I nodded.

“Those who need to know, know. The warriors know to take your lead. You and Jared are the priority, getting one of you close to Marlow is their mission. Hayden and your six patrol warriors won’t leave your side, Ethan will be with your brother and me. I have a group of warriors in charge of getting the civilians to safety or protecting them where they sit.” I recited the plan we had gone over for days now.

“And you?” She asked, even though she knew the answer to that question.

“I’ll be distracting Marlow, keeping her calm and still so that you or Jared can get close. If that fails, I’ll be fighting alongside you and the other warriors.” She nodded, squeezing my hand against her chest.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you, Josie, I swear.” I promised her fiercely.

“Swear to me you want to let yourself get hurt.” She begged. I kissed her forehead,

“I’ll do everything that I can to come home to you.” I said, kissing her lips. I felt her hand rub my cheek and I tasted the salt from her tears.

“This will work.” I said to her, boring my eyes into hers, urging her to believe me.

“I know.” She sucked back her tears and put on her game face.

“The only thing I can’t save you from is Kasey.” I laughed, breaking up the seriousness in the room, just as Kasey’s head poked through the door. Josie’s giggles filled the room and I held that sound close to my heart.

“I’ll see you there.” I said, kissing her lips again.

“I’ll be the one in green.” She assured me, kissing me back. Her hand slowly slipped out of mine as I left the room.